![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Poet on November 11, 2004, at 16:07:21
I was scared, but I did it. I gave her a note with some of the bad stuff that I just can't talk about. After she read it, she said *I thought there was more than what you were telling me.* She gave it back to me and I ripped it up.
I told her that I couldn't really talk about it openly, but she could try to ask questions, which she did. I gave a lot of yes and no answers and tried to deny things, but at least she knows some of what has been eating away at me mentally for 40 some years.
At the end of the session she said, *I know this session has been very, and I don't want you taking any of this pain back with you. What can we put it in?*
We both closed our eyes and I imagined a wood box with a strong lock. There is a cover over the lock so nothing can escape through the keyhole.
She asked where we should put it and I said on her bookcase, the second from the top shelf is empty. She asked if I felt that was far enough away, and so I said to move it to the very top out of both of our reaches.
I have the mental key. I hope I can keep my mind from trying to get in that box and letting the pain back in.
I wonder how many invisible boxes of pain are in my therapist's office? It would be horrid if all the bad stuff broke out at once. Like Pandora's box.
Hope the lock holds and I don't let myself get in that box without her being with me.
Poet
Posted by Miss Honeychurch on November 11, 2004, at 18:14:29
In reply to Today's Session, posted by Poet on November 11, 2004, at 16:07:21
Poet,
What a powerful image, all those lockboxes of pain.
Do you feel a little relieved you got some of the pain out in the open? That took a lot of courage.
Posted by daisym on November 11, 2004, at 18:55:33
In reply to Today's Session, posted by Poet on November 11, 2004, at 16:07:21
You were very brave. I'm so glad you could give her the note. I'm sure it was really, really hard.
I love the images of the pain in the box. What a nice tool to use. Try to keep yourself in the relief of finally telling her over the weekend.
And if it gets too big, call her. I found that touching base before you are completely overwhelmed is a way to keep things in check.
When is your next session?
Posted by gardenergirl on November 11, 2004, at 19:55:10
In reply to Re: Today's Session » Poet, posted by daisym on November 11, 2004, at 18:55:33
Poet,
That's wonderful. I'm so happy to hear you were able to get some of that out and that it was okay. I love the mental box image, too. I hope that keeps you safe until next time.Take care,
gg
Posted by shrinking violet on November 11, 2004, at 19:58:44
In reply to Re: Today's Session, posted by gardenergirl on November 11, 2004, at 19:55:10
I'm SO proud of you for doing this. And your T sounds so capable and aware of how you are feeling in and out of session. I like the box idea, I'll have to remember that if I ever need it. Maybe you could put the key somewhere instead of keeping it with you? ;)
And, if you need to, feel free to email me if it might help in any way, okay?
Take care.
SV
Posted by shortelise on November 11, 2004, at 20:04:32
In reply to Today's Session, posted by Poet on November 11, 2004, at 16:07:21
((((Poet))))
Posted by littleone on November 11, 2004, at 20:39:23
In reply to Today's Session, posted by Poet on November 11, 2004, at 16:07:21
Poet, I'm so glad you were able to do what you did. You're such a brave person. You're T sounds very special too.
Re your box, I use a similar mental picture to lock things away, but my box is always bulging with the big ugly monsters locked up inside of it. I'm always terrified that it will burst open, so I sit on top of it with my cat, my two dogs, my husband and my T. Even my T's wife hopped up on there one particularly nasty day.
If the monsters are being particularly cantankerous, I'll go to Borders and start piling books and DVD's on there too.
Needless to say, it can get quite crowded on top of my monsters' box.
Maybe you could keep your mental key on a mental chain around your T's neck. Then you can't open the box without her. As long as she's not one of those people who are always losing their keys and their wallets and their etc :)
I think I'll lock up that mental image of all those boxes of pain with my monsters. Leaves me feeling antsy to think of anyone's T being subjected to that avalanche of pain.
Posted by Aphrodite on November 12, 2004, at 7:40:44
In reply to Today's Session, posted by Poet on November 11, 2004, at 16:07:21
> I was scared, but I did it.
I'm SO proud of you!!!!!
>
> Hope the lock holds and I don't let myself get in that box without her being with me.Why don't you give her the key? That way, you have to ask her for it and that will ensure she'll be with you.
My T uses mental imagery like that a lot. Our eyes are closed for much of our time together! It really helps me as I am a visual learner. I can carry those images with me. I hope it helps you too.
Posted by Susan47 on November 12, 2004, at 14:15:02
In reply to Re: Today's Session, posted by Aphrodite on November 12, 2004, at 7:40:44
It would be so great if everyone with pain could have therapists like yours, who can lock your pain up with you. I wish I'dhad one of those, and littleone I wish you to be able to peep into your box now and again. I loved your images of sitting on top of your box and piling books and movies on top of it, I do that too. :)
Posted by Poet on November 13, 2004, at 15:07:06
In reply to Re: Today's Session, posted by Aphrodite on November 12, 2004, at 7:40:44
Hi Miss Honeychurch,
I should give her the key to keep for me. I think if I am carrying it around, it might be dangerous.
Poet
Posted by Poet on November 13, 2004, at 15:12:14
In reply to Re: Today's Session, posted by Miss Honeychurch on November 11, 2004, at 18:14:29
Hi Miss Honeychurch,
I do feel some relief. What is really good is that I know she won't pry open that box of pain and try to push me to confront it. It can sit there and gather dust if I need it to.
Poet
Posted by Poet on November 13, 2004, at 15:14:48
In reply to Re: Today's Session » Poet, posted by daisym on November 11, 2004, at 18:55:33
Hi Daisy,
I see her next Thursday. I know she is going to ask how I've been *holding* what was disclosed, but I don't think she'll push me to open the box. I am so glad that I found a therapist who never pushes.
Poet
Posted by Poet on November 13, 2004, at 15:18:51
In reply to Re: Today's Session, posted by shrinking violet on November 11, 2004, at 19:58:44
Hi SV,
I think that I should hide the key or as Aphrodite suggested let my T keep it.
Thanks for helping. Did you go back to therapy? I must have missed it. Let me know.
Poet
Posted by Poet on November 13, 2004, at 15:19:47
In reply to Re: Today's Session » Poet, posted by shortelise on November 11, 2004, at 20:04:32
Posted by Poet on November 13, 2004, at 15:27:46
In reply to Re: Today's Session » Poet, posted by littleone on November 11, 2004, at 20:39:23
Hi littleone,
I'm glad you have been able to keep that monster in the box. I didn't think about piling stuff on the box to keep it closed, I will imagine my T's books piled on top of mine.
I think I am going to give my T the key. I could have her wear it around her neck. She is the type to lose things, including keys, so I will make sure that the mental chain is sturdy.
Poet
Posted by Poet on November 13, 2004, at 15:28:38
In reply to Re: Today's Session, posted by Poet on November 13, 2004, at 15:27:46
Posted by Poet on November 13, 2004, at 15:31:15
In reply to Your wonderful Ts, posted by Susan47 on November 12, 2004, at 14:15:02
Hi Susan,
I wish you had had a better therapist, too. Reading all the posts filled with pain caused by therapists makes me realize that I lucked out.
Keep your monsters tightly in the box. I know I will.
Poet
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Psychology | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.